Expansible link chain for bracelets with slotted guide plate



Jan. 5, 1960 G, A, slMoNE-rTl 2,919,539

EXPANSIBLE LINK CHAIN FOR BRACELETS WITH SLOTTED GUIDE PLATE Filed Aug. l, 1956 J ./4 @mw E JNVENToR. GEORGE A. SIMONETTI ATTO R N EY United Stat ate L EXPANSIBLE LINK CHAIN FOR BRACELETS WITH SLOITED GUIDE PLATE The present invention relates to improvements in expansible link chain for bracelets and the like and more particularly to an improvedy skeleton assembly.

At the present; time the trend in expansion bracelets has been toward the: provision; of a skeleton assembly of suchconstruction that the ornamental shells associated therewith c an be of relatively large size, usually substantially square, rather than of the more conventional transversely elongatedand narrow shell shape heretofore extensively utilized. However, one major problem has arisen inf providinggskeleton; assemblies for such shells as. are now becoming popular; Because of their substalltially` rectangular shape it is' desired that the shells be held from tilting during expansion or contraction of {the-skeleton'assembly upon which the shells are mounted.

Skeleton assembliesy heretofore provided have not successfully overome the problem of tilting of the shells relative,y to each other. during such expansion and contraction of the assemblies and many have been dependent upon uniformity of the springs employed which, as is well *knowing differA Somewhat .inV the small sizes utilized in braceletl skeletons, Also, since undue strain at one point :many cause a springtQpass its yield point and result in thel uneven distribution of forces in the skeleton assembly,

reliance thereon is not productive of the ideal bracelet.

, Accordi;,igl-y,` it a primary object of the present infvention to provide an improved skeleton assembly for expansion type bracelets wherein the ornamental shells and other covering means associated therewith are movfable relative to the components of the skeleton assembly during expansion and contraction of the assembly yet wherein such means are substantially free of tilting movement. y

Anotherfobieet of the vpresent invention isto provide an improvedskeleton assembly wherein the links are `associated with a liner in such manner that relative move- 'mentbetween the links isguided along predetermined `paths so-that there is substantial uniformity of relative movementandexpansion-along the length of the assembly. A further objectof the present invention is -to provi'de animprovedskeleton assembly arrangement wherein substantial uniformityy ofl expansion is achieved notwithstanding non-uniformity in the springs employed.

"Still, another object ofthe present invention is to provpivot relative to the liner and the ornamentall means associated therewith without interference of the latter and yet with substantial concealment by the latter.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved expansion link chain wherein the number of partsrequired is minimized and the relationship between the parts is suchas to provide a construction facile of assembly thereby resulting in low manufacturing and assembly costs.

Various otherr objects and advantages parent; hereinafter.

In;y the drawings:-

Figure l is a top plan view of a'portiojnof a link chain bracelet embodying my improvement;

Figure v2 is a side elevational view ofthe bracelet portion of Figure; l;

lFigure 3 is anenlarged. detail,l top plan view of the skeleton assembly of my improved construction shown in its expanded relationship;

Figure 4 is a. somewhatdiagrammatic View of the skeleton assembly of Figure 3 shown in its contracted relationship;-

Figure 5 is a longitudinal ver-tical sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 5--5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a. transverse vertical sectional View taken substantially-,along the plane of line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 7-7 of Figure 3;

Figure 8v is a bottom plan view ofy a back plate with a shell associated therewith;

vFigure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a portion ofthelink chain` ofmy improved construction; and

Figure 1:0 is a somewhat diagrammatic view similar to Figure 4zbutshowing a slightly modifiedfform of assembly.

Rfeferring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals apply: toC like parts throughout, it will be seen'that an expansion linkl chain 10 is shown in Figures l and 2 as it would appear with the ornamental shells 12 associatedv therewith and onefterminal link 14 is shown although it will be understood that a similarterminal link is provided at the other end of the bracelet (not shown). Y

Looking now at-Figure 8 and Figure 9 wherein component4 elements are shown in exploded' perspective, they will now be described. The shell 112 is comprised of a face portion 16 which although shown to be plain can have any ornamental design desired applied. Moreover, ifldesired, non-metallic facings may be employed, asv for examples, leather or stones. The shell 12 has dependingv sidewalls 18 and 20 with iiap or tab extensions 22 and 24 integral with their lower edges 26 and 28, respectively. The shell 12 also has end walls 30 and will become ap- 32 which are provided with elongated cut-away portions 34- and 36 so as `to provide openings out ,through which the linkscan project and freely move.

The back plate 38 is of substantially the same shape in top plan view as the top shell 12 but is slightly smaller so as to be received therein as in Figure 8. The back plate 38 has oppositely disposed offset or depressed portions- 40 and 42 at the ends thereof. AlsoJ at the corners, the-plate 33 is notched as at 44, 46, 48 and 50 so as to snugly receive the cooperative lower edge portions of the topshell 12;

The'- liner 52 is formed from a flat substantiallyfrectangular plate corresponding in shape with .the interior surfaces of Ithe top shell 12. At the sides of the liner 52 are provided the upturned integral ap or tab extensions 54, 56, 58 and 60 the upper edges of which are curved to conform with the under surface of the face portion 16 so as to seat thereagainst. Also at the sides of the liner 52 and between the upturned ap or tab extensions are provided downturned integral extensions 62 and 64 which are adapted to seat on the portions 40 and 42 of the rear plate 38. Along the longitudinal axis of the liner are provided a pair of aligned guide formations in the form of slots 66 and 68 and along the transverse axis of .the liner another pair 0f guide formations also in the form of slots 70 and 72 are provided. The slots of each pair are aligned with each other as is shown. The liner 52 has the end edges 74 and 76 formed 4with notches 78, 80, 82 and 84 for a reason to be described hereinafter.

The link 86 is of elongated flat stock provided with rivet-receiving openings 88 and 90 adjacent its ends and 92 at an intermediate portion. The opening 92 is shown to be slightly closer to the opening 88 thus making possible a wider liner, top shell and back plate. Adjacent the rivet-receiving opening 88 the link 86 is provided with an integral spring retaining tab 94. The other required components are the rivets 96 and coil spring 98, the latter having straight end extensions 100 and 102 for cooperation with the spring tabs 94 of separate links 86.

Inasmuch as the plurality of elements shown in Figure 9 and above described are substantially identical with other components which go to make up a chain, it is deemed that description of these other elements would be unnecessary repetition.

In Figure 3 the terminal link 14 is shown as having a plate-like portion 104 in which are formed the slots 106 and 108 for a purpose presently .to be described.

In assembling the foregoing described components, it will be seen that one series of links 86 has the same in parallel relationship and on'one side of the liner 52 whereas the links 86' of the other series are parallel J with each other and non-parallel with respect to the links 0f the first series. Preferably hollow rivets join .the links through the guide formations or slots of the liners 52 and also at the free ends of the links between adjacent liners. The springs 98 are preferably engaged through the hollow rivets in the slots 70 and 72 with the ends 100 and 102 engaging the tabs 94 and 94 of the links 86 and 86.

At the ends the links 86 and 86' are secured to the terminal link 14 by rivets engaged through the slots 106 and 108.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 best show the relationship between the links, liner, rivets and the springs. As shown, the liners with their associated elements are received within the top shells 12 and back plates 38 which are joined together by bending the aps 22 and 24 into the depressed portions 40 and 42.

From the foregoing it will be seen that any number of springs may be employed. As the chain is expanded the rivets move freely in the guide formations and are directed along predetermined paths thereby. Moreover, the ornamental shells move longitudinally without `tilting notwithstanding the pivoting and other relative movement of the links. When the assembly is in its contracted relationship, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 4, the ornamental shells are abutting each other and the liners are juxtaposed so that the notches 84, 78, 80 and 82 cooperate to define openings receiving the rivets 96 disposed between the adjacent liners.

One modied form of skeleton assembly is shown in Figure 10, somewhat diagrammatically. The liners require one less slot or other guide formation and less links 86 and 86 are employed. Springs occur only at the rivets in the transversely extending slots although of course springs could be utilized in the rivets joining links between adjacent liners. The rivets in the longitudinal slots 66 and 68 are solely for guide purposes, there being no crossing links for pivotal interconnection. The terminal link 14 preferably is fixed `to the next adjacent liner 52 and has one slot 106 disposed so as to pivotally and slidably receive the rivet on the end of the last link 86.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claim rather than by the description preceding it, and all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claim or that form their functional as wall as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by this claim.

I claim:

An expansion linkage for bracelets comprising a plurality of plate-like liners, each liner having adjacent each of the opposite side edges a substantially laterally extending slot and adjacent each of the opposite end edges a substantially longitudinally extending slot, said laterally extending slots being substantially aligned with each other and said longitudinally extending slots being substantially aligned with each other, a first series of substantially parallel links, each of which links overlies one each of said laterally and longitudinally extending slots of each liner so that a pair of said links are associated with -each liner, a second series of substantially parallel links in crossed relation to said first series of links, each of the links of the second series overlying one each of said laterally and longitudinally extending slots, the slots associated with said second series of links including one of each of the pairs of slots associated with each of the pairs of links of the first series, rivets pivotally joining said links of the first and second series through said slots so as to be free to move relative to and be guided by the slots, the free ends of the links of the first and second series adjacent the ends of each liner being pivotally connected to the free ends of the links of the next adjacent liner, and resilient means associated with certain of said links to urge the links and liners to their contracted relationship, a plurality of shells, a back plate for each shell, means joining each back plate to a respective shell and receiving a liner therein, means fixedly holding each liner between its respective shell `and back plate so as to move as a unit therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 41,779 Lukowski Sept. 19, 1911 223,669 Edge Jan. 20, 1880 391,188 Pickle Oct. 16, 1888 1,182,110 Sinkler May 9, 1916 2,759,325 Pinson Aug. 21, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 46,977 Germany July 17, 1888 806,679 Germany June 18, 1951 

